asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of arrestment of wages under Section 2 of the Small Debt (Scotland) Act, 1924, took place during each of the years 1951 to 1954, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

Is the Minister aware that under Section 2 of the Act, debtors can have their wages impounded, leaving them only 35s. a week, which figure is now grossly out of date and is causing great anxiety, and will he consider an amendment of the law in order to deal with this point?

One realises that, but the matter is now being considered, so far as it can be, by the National Assistance Board and also by the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce, and, until that Commission reports, it is a little difficult to make up one's mind about it.

Would the hon. Gentle man also bear in mind that this is the only way in which Scottish wives can recover maintenance from husbands who desert them? Surely, if there is a great amount of arrears, 35s. is quite sufficient for any husband who has deserted his wife.